Convertible case

ABSTRACT

A combination wig and make-up case includes an inner section which is nested within the bottom section of the case and is preferably fitted with wig accessories, such as a wig form, mounting spindle and wig brush. The bottom section of the case and a cover are hinged together along their edges by means of complementary hinge sections and a removable pin or pins. The fitted inner section is also provided with hinge sections complementary to the hinge sections on the bottom section of the case so that the cover can be detached from the bottom section and the inner section, which has appreciably greater depth than the cover, attached to the bottom section in place of the cover to provide greater overall depth to the case. In this configuration the wig form may be mounted upright in the case and a wig carried thereon styled or dressed and ready for wear.

United States Patent 1191 Jackson 1 51 Nov. 8, 1973 1 CONVERTIBLE CASE 22 Filed: July 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 163,975

[52] U.S. C1 206/8, 206/DIG. 9, 206/DIG. l1,

220/4 D, 220/8, 220/17 [51] Int. Cl B6511 7/28, 365d 85/18 [58] Field of Search 132/79 R, 79 G, 79 F;

206/1 R, 8, 65 K, DIG. 9, DIG. 11; 220/4 C, 4 D, 8,17, 23, 23.83, 23.86, 97 F Primary ExaminerHerbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney-Marechal, Biebel, French & Bugg [57] ABSTRACT A combination wig and make-up case includes an inner section which is nested within the bottom section of the case and is preferably fitted with wig accessories, such as a wig form, mounting spindle and wig brush. The bottom section of the case and a cover are hinged together along their edges by means of complementary hinge sections and a removable pin or pins. The fitted inner section is also provided with hinge sections complementary to the hinge sections on the bottom section of the case so that the cover can be detached from the bottom section and the inner section, which has appreciably greater depth than the cover, attached to the bottom section in place of the cover to provide greater overall depth to the case In this configuration the wig form may be mounted upright in the case and a wig carried thereon styled or dressed and ready for wear.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 CONVERTIBLE CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of wigs or wiglets as style accessories has not only resulted in an interest in the development of various wig constructions and wig materials, but also in a concomitant interest in the development and design of wig accessories. Thus, the design and construction of wig carrying and display cases has been made the subject of a number of patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,822, for example, discloses a carrying case formed of two mating sections. U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,842 discloses another variation of wig case in which a collapsible styling stand is provided which may be opened up and a wig placed thereon for styling when the case is opened. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,388 the wig case described therein is made collapsible so that a wig and wig form may be stowed in the case in the collapsed position while the dressed or styled wig may be supposted on the erected wig form in the open position in this case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a combination cosmetic and wig case which can be used as a cosmetic case alone, a compact wig case in which the wig and wig form can be stowed or, after conversion in a simple operation, to a case of greater depth in which the wig form can be mounted in a vertical position and the styled or dressed wig carried by the wig form.

The convertible case includes a bottom section in which an extension cover is received in nested relationship with a closure member hinged to the bottom section. The hinge connection between the closure member and the bottom section is made detachable and a hinge section is mounted on the extension cover so that when the closure member is detached from the bottom section the extension cover can be removed from the bottom section and hingedly attached thereto.

It will be seen, therefore, that the convertible case of the present invention can be utilized as a cosmetic case by simply removing the extension cover from its nested position within the bottom section. If it is desired to merely carry a wig form and a wig in the case, the extension cover can be retained within the bottom section and the case closed by the closure member hingedly attached to the bottom section. In this regard, the extension cover is preferably provided with elastic straps or the like for retaining the wig form in place in the extension cover as well as other accessories, such as a wig brush and a spindle for mounting the wig form in its erected position in the bottom section of the case.

If it is desired to carry the wig form in the case in its erected position with a styled or dressed wig supported thereby, the closure member can be detached from the bottom section, the extension cover removed from the bottom section, inverted and hingedly attached thereto in place of the closure member. The wig form and mounting spindle therefor would, of course, be removed from the extension cover, the mounting spindle attached to the bottom wall of the bottom section and the wig form mounted on the mounting spindle.

It will also be seen that the wig case is preferably constructed with parallel side walls and generally semicircular end walls to provide the greatest volume while still providing the ease of handling which would otherwise be impaired if the case was constructed of circular cross section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled case with the closure member or lid in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the case closed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship of the various components of the case;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the inner section or extension cover in the inverted position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view, partly in section, showing the mounting means for the wig form;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the assembled base member and extension cover of the wig case;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the converted wig case with the wig form mounted therein and supporting a wig;

FIG. 7 is a view on line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a typical hinge connection for the case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A convertible case 10 in accordance with the present invention includes, as seen in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, a base member 12, an extension cover 14 and a closure member 16. In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings the base and closure members 12 and 16, respectively, are shown as hingedly connected to each other by means of a detachable hinge connection indicated by the numeral 18 in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings.

As seen in FIGS. 3', 8 and 9, the hinge connection 18 includes hinge sections 20 fixed to the upstanding wall portions of the base member 12 and each having portions defining a pintle receiving opening 24 therein. Complementary hinge sections 26 are fixed to one of the upstanding side walls 28 of the closure member 16 and receive pintles 30 which are also received in the openings 24 in the base member hinge sections 20.

Side Wall 32 of the base member 12 is also provided with a spring loaded catch 34 which receives mating portions of the catch 36 mounted on the side wall 38 of the extension cover 16. It will also be seen in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings that the base member 12 is provided with outwardly projecting portions 40 in its side wall 32 and a centrally located outwardly projecting portion 42 in its side wall 22. Similarly, the closure member 16 is provided with outwardly projecting portions 44 in its side wall 38 and a outwardly projecting portion, not shown, on its side wall 28 defining, with the outwardly projecting portion 42, a socket for a purpose presently to be described.

The upper edge of the upstanding wall portion of the base member 12 is provided with a substantially L- shaped rim 46 which, for ease of attachment, is provided with a downwardly projecting leg 48, by means of which the rim 46 is attached to the upper edge of the upstanding wall portion of the base member 12 by means of screws 50 or the like.

Receivable in the base member 12 in nested relationship thereto is the extension cover 14 having a bottom wall 52 corresponding in shape to the bottom wall 54 of the base member 12 but of smaller size and upstanding walls, including side walls 56 and 58, corresponding to the upstanding walls of the base member 12 and closure member 16 but of less height than the upstanding walls of the base member 12 and of greater height than the upstanding walls of the closure member 16.

On its wall 56 the extension cover 14 is provided with hinged sections 60 complementary to the hinge sections 20 and receiving pintles 62 which are also receivable in the openings 24 in the hinge sections 20. In this regard it should be noted that the pintles 30 and 62 may be permanently received in the hinge sections 26 and 60, respectively, and in fact, made integral therewith.

On its wall 58 the extension cover 14 is provided with a catch 64 which, like the catch 36 mounted on the closure member 16, is engageable with the spring loaded catch 34 on the wall 32 of the base member 12. The upper edge of the upstanding wall of the extension cover 14 is provided with a substantially L-shaped rim 66 which rests on the L-shaped rim 46 of the base member 12 when the extension cover 14 is nested therein.

It will also be seen that in this position the outwardly projecting portions 40 and 44 receive the hinge sections 60 and pintles 62 and the outwardly projecting portion 42 of the base member 12 and the corresponding portion on the closure member 16 will receive the catch 64 mounted on the wall 58 of the extension cover 14. Within the extension cover 14 fittings, such as portions of an elastic strap 68, are preferably provided to accommodate the necessary wig accessories, such as a wig form 70, a mounting spindle 72 therefor, and a wig comb or the like 74. Additionally, it will be noted that the interior of the closure member 16 may also be provided with means, such as the straps 76 for accommodating a mirror 78.

A threaded socket 80 is defined in the bottom wall 54 of the base member 12 and receives the threaded shaft 82 of the spindle 72. The upper portion of the spindle 72 may be of any convenient shape, such as frustoconical, and is received in a complementary socket 84 defined in the bottom portion of the wig form 70 to support the wig form in the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

lt will also be noted from FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings that both the closure member 16 and the extension cover 14 are provided with handles, as at 86 and 88, respectively, for ease in carrying the case of the present invention regardless of which configuration is being used.

With the above construction it will be seen that the case of the present invention may be used in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings with the wig form 70 and other accessories stowed in the bottom of the extension cover 14 and, if desired, a wig or the like loosely laid within the case.

On the other hand, if it is desired to use the case of the present invention soley as a cosmetic case, the entire extension cover and wig accessories therein may be removed from the base member 12 and the case used as a cosmetic case.

Additionally, if it is desired to utilize the case of the present invention as a wig case for carrying a styled or dressed wig on a supporting form, the closure member 16 is detached from the base member 12, the extension cover 14 lifted from its nested relationship within the base member 12, the wig accessories removed therefrom, and the extension then inverted to the position shown in FIGS. 3A and 6 of the drawings. The complementary hinge sections 60,20 are then interconnected by means of the pintles 62 or the like.

In the conversion operation, if the closure member and extension cover hinged sections and pintles are formed as integral units, to remove the cover 16 it is necessary to merely slide the cover to the right as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and then lift the cover 16 from the base member 12. Of course, in attaching the extension cover 14 to the base member,the pintles 62 are aligned with the openings in the hinged sections 20 and the extension cover 14 then moved to the left,as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2,to provide a hinge connection between the base member 12 and the extension cover 14.

Thereafter, the threaded portion 82 of the spindle 72 is threaded into the socket in the bottom, wall 54 of the base member 12, the wig form mounted thereon and a wig or the like 90 supported by the form 70, for

styling, dressing, etc.

It will be noted that the case of the present invention is provided with parallel side walls which are connected by substantially semi-circular end walls. This provides the greatest volume without necessitating a circular construction which may be somewhat awkward to carry after a certain size.

From the above it will be seen that the present invention provides a convertible case which may function as a cosmetic case, as a case for carrying wig and wig form in a stowed position, and, by a simple conversion operation, as a wig case for carrying an erected wig form and a styled or dressed wig thereon.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A convertible case of the type described comprising:

a. a base member having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a first open receptacle,

b. a closure member for closing said receptacle,

c. first attachment means mounted on said base member, second attachment means mounted on said closure member being engaged with and selectively disengageable from said first attachment means to secure said closure member to said base member yet permit detachment of said closure member from said base member,

e. an extension cover having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a second open receptacle, f. said extension cover being received in said base member in nested relationship thereto and having a size and shape relative to the size and shape of said base member such that said closure member can be closed on said base member when said extension cover is in said base member in nested relationship thereto,

g. third attachment means mounted on said extension cover and selectively engageable with said first attachment means when said second attachment means are disengaged therefrom to secure said extension cover to said base member, and

h. means for securing a wig form in said case.

2. The case of claim I wherein:

a. said base member upstanding wall portions include a pair of spaced parallel sidewalls and substantially semicircular end walls interconnecting said sidewalls.

3. The case of claim 1 wherein:

a. said closure member includes a top wall portion and an upstanding wall portion projecting from said top wall portion,

b. said closure member upstanding wall portion being of substantially less height than said extension cover upstanding wall portion.

4. The case of claim 1 further comprising:

a. handle means mounted in said top wall portion of said closure member and said bottom portion of said extension cover.

5. A convertible case of the type described comprising:

a. a base member having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a first open receptacle,

b. a closure member for closing said receptacle,

c. first pintle receiving means mounted on said base member,

d. second pintle receiving means mounted on said closure member complementary to and in alignment with said first pintle receiving means on said base member,

. an extension cover having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a second open receptacle,

f. said extension cover being received in said base member in nested relationship thereto and having a size and shape relative to the size and shape of said base member such that said receptacle can be closed by said closure member when said extension cover is nested in said base member,

g. third pintle receiving means mounted on said extension cover complementary to and alignable with said first pintle receiving means on said base member, and

h. pintle means engaged with said aligned complementary first and second pintle receiving means on said base member and said closure member joining said base and closure members but selectively disengageable therefrom and engageable with said first and third pintle receiving means to form a hinged connection between said base member and said extension cover.

6. A convertible case of the type described comprising:

a. a base member including a bottom wall, a pair of parallel, upstanding side walls and semi-circular end walls interconnecting said side walls and defining with said bottom wall an open receptacle,

b. means defining a substantially L-shaped rim mounted on upper edges of said side and end walls with one leg of said rim overlying said upper edges and the other leg thereof extending substantially coplanar with outer faces of said side and end walls,

c. an extension cover having bottom side and end walls corresponding to but smaller than said base member bottom, side and end walls and received in said base member in nested relationship thereto,

d. means defining pintle receiving hinge sections mounted on one of said side walls of said base member adjacent said upper edge thereof,

e. means defining pintle receiving hinge sections on said extension cover adjacent an upper edge of one of said side walls thereof complementary to and coaxially alignable with said hinge sections on said base member,

fastening means attached to the other of said side walls of said base member opposite said hinge sections mounted thereon,

g. fastening means attached to the other of said side walls of said extension cover opposite said hinge sections mounted thereon and engageable with said base member fastening means,

h. a closure member having a top wall corresponding in size and shape to said bottom wall of said base member and upstanding side and end walls of substantially less height than said side and end walls of said extension cover,

i. means defining pintle receiving hinge sections on said closure member adjacent a lower edge of one of said side walls thereof complementary to and coaxially aligned with said hinge sections on said base member,

j. a pintle received in said base and closure member hinge sections and forming a hinged connection therebetween,

k. fastening means attached to the other of said side walls of said closure member opposite said hinge sections mounted thereon and engageable with said base member fastening means when said closure member is positioned in overlying relationship to said base member and said extension cover nested therein,

l. means for securing a wig form and a mounting spindle for said form in said extension cover,

m. means defining a mounting spindle socket in said bottom wall of said base member, and

n. handle means mounted on said top wall of said closure member and said bottom wall of said extension cover. 

1. A convertible case of the type described comprising: a. a base member having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a first open receptacle, b. a closure member for closing said receptacle, c. first attachment means mounted on said base member, d. second attachment means mounted on said closure member being engaged with and selectively disengageable from said first attachment means to secure said closure member to said base member yet permit detachment of said closure member from said base member, e. an extension cover having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a second open receptacle, f. said extension cover being received in said base member in nested relationship thereto and having a size and shape relative to the size and shape of said base member such that said closure member can be closed on said base member when said extension cover is in said base member in nested relationship thereto, g. third attachment means mounted on said extension cover and selectively engageable with said first attachment means when said second attachment means are disengaged therefrom to secure said extension cover to said base member, and h. means for securing a wig form in said case.
 2. The case of claim 1 wherein: a. said base member upstanding wall portions include a pair of spaced parallel sidewalls and substantially semicircular end walls interconnecting said sidewalls.
 3. The case of claim 1 wherein: a. said closure member includes a top wall portion and an upstanding wall portion projecting from said top wall portion, b. said closure member upstanding wall portion being of substantially less height than said extension cover upstanding wall portion.
 4. The case of claim 1 further comprising: a. handle means mounted in said top wall portion of said closure member and said bottom portion of said extension cover.
 5. A convertible case of the type described comprising: a. a base member having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a first open receptacle, b. a closure member for closing said receptacle, c. first pintle receiving means mounted on said base member, d. second pintle receiving means mounted on said closure member complementary to and in alignment with said first pintle receiving means on said base member, e. an extension cover having bottom and upstanding wall portions defining a second open receptacle, f. said extension cover being received in said base member in nested relationship thereto and having a size and shape relative to the size and shape of said base member such that said receptacle can be closed by said closure member when said extension cover is nested in said base member, g. third pintle receiving means mounted on said extension cover complementary to and alignable with said first pintle receiving means on said base member, and h. pintle means engaged with said aligned comple-mentary first and second pintle receiving means on said base member and said closure member joining said base and closure members but selectively disengageable therefrom and engageable with said first and third pintle receiving means to form a hinged connection between said base member and said extension cover.
 6. A convertible case of the type described comprising: a. a base member including a bottom wall, a pair of parallel, upstanding side walls and semi-circular end walls interconnecting said side walls and defining with said bottom wall an open receptacle, b. means defining a substantially L-shaped rim mounted on upper edges of said side and end walls with one leg of said rim overlying said upper edges and the other leg thereof extending substantially coplanar with outer faces of said side and end walls, c. an extension cover having bottom side and end walls corresponding to but smaller than said base member bottom, side and end walls and received in said base member in nested relationship thereto, d. means defining pintle receiving hinge sections mounted on one of said side walls of said base member adjacent said upper edge thereof, e. means defining pintle receiving hinge sections on said extension cover adjacent an upper edge of one of said side walls thereof complementary to and coaxially alignable with said hinge sections on said base member, f. fastening means attached to the other of said side walls of said base member opposite said hinge sections mounted thereon, g. fastening means attached to the other of said side walls of said extension cover opposite said hinge sections mounted thereon and engageable with said base member fastening means, h. a closure member having a top wall corresponding in size and shape to said bottom wall of said base member and upstanding side and end walls of substantially less height than said side and end walls of said extension cover, i. means defining pintle receiving hinge sections on said closure member adjacent a lower edge of one of said side walls thereof complementary to and coaxially aligned with said hinge sections on said base member, j. a pintle received in said base and closure member hinge sections and forming a hinged connection therebetween, k. fastening means attached to the other of said side walls of said closure member opposite said hinge sections mounted thereon and engageable with said base member fastening means when said closure member is positioned in overlying relationship to said base member and said extension cover nested therein, l. means for securing a wig form and a mounting spindle for said form in said extension cover, m. means defining a mounting spindle socket in said bottom wall of said base member, and n. handle means mounted on said top wall of said closure member and said bottom wall of said extension cover. 